CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Local doctors and other volunteers hosted a free clinic in Hampton Roads this weekend, offering free dental, vision, and general medical care for kids and adults.
Hundreds of people lined up at the Hindu Temple of Hampton Roads for the clinic.
Ernest Flores got a free eye exam and free glasses after lining up at 5 a.m. with his wife.
“Come to find out I need glasses, didn’t even know,” Flores said. “My wife’s getting her teeth done. She’s getting her fillings done.”
Patients could see dozens of specialists in everything from cardiology to gastroenterology to orthopedics, along with general health screenings.
“It really helps out people like myself that have limited income so this is something that’s a blessing,” Flores said.
The event was organized by the Hampton Roads chapter of the Association of American Physicians of Indian origin (AAPI).
AAPI's Dr. Parthiv Sheth said it's been a busy weekend for all the doctors, nurses, and volunteer staff.
“We saw yesterday 410 patients and provided the quality of care and today we are expecting almost 200 patients so all together around 600 patients will get benefits,” Dr. Sheth said.
This is the 8th year AAPI has hosted the event. But this time around, they've partnered with Remote Area Medical (RAM), a traveling clinic.
Most of the patients they treat don’t have insurance or can’t afford medical care.
“They’re daily faced with the challenge of choosing between paying their rent bill or paying their medical bill - or getting their kids new shoes and going to the dentist," said RAM's Poppy Green.
In addition to this Health Camp, AAPI donates money to other free clinics in the area, year-round.
As of this year, AAPI says they've donated $1 million.
Chetan Kumar, chairman of the board of trustees for the Hindu Temple of Hampton Roads said of the event, “When you put up such an effort to have a function of this magnitude, you always feel proud when you see that many people being helped and taken care of.”
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